“Christ is the ladder, and believers get up, step by step, until they get into glory."—ROMAINE.
In Jacob's vision at Bethel, Gen. 28:10-22, (viewing it in its prophetical aspect,) is foreshown the connection between heaven and earth in the kingdom—"The Bridal of the earth and sky," in the day when the angels of God shall be seen ascending and descending upon the Son of man. This truth, which is set forth in several of the foregoing hymns, the author had not yet learned when the following poem was written.
SWEET spot! 'twas surely hallow'd ground,
Where heaven itself diffused around
The breath of peace and love;
There Jacob slept—there angels hung
O'er him from whom the Savior sprung,
To guard him from above.
He slept—but who that saw him there,
Beneath the chill and midnight air,
Upon the dewy sod,
Lorn as he seem'd, could e'er have guess'd
How bright a glimpse of glory bless'd
That favor'd child of God?
The gloomy cloud by sorrow spread
Around the sleeper's dreamy head,
Had melted into light;
And, lo! a vision too intense
In splendor for weak mortal sense,
Blazed on his inward sight.
A ladder of stupendous height,
Led upward through the gates of light,
On to the throne of God:
While to and fro, 'twist heaven and earth,
Fair holy ones, of seraph-birth,
Its steps of glory trod.
Some paused to catch the broken prayer,
Breathed by the slumb'ring patriarch there,
E'en in the ear of Love;
While myriads more, as swift as thought,
Full many a goodly blessing brought,
In answer from above.
Sweet dream! its memory oft would cheer
The Patriarch's soul, through many a year
Of sorrow, fear, and strife;
We love it too, for there we see
A beauteous emblem, Lord, of thee,
Thou glorious way of life!
Through thee the Father's love descends,
Through thee our love to him ascends,
And prayer and praise arise;
While every promise, Lord! of thine,
What is it but a step divine,
To lead us to the skies?
Thy brethren, as with holy feet
They climb those steps, may feel it sweet
At times to glance below,
And wonder at the vast abyss
That severs yonder world of bliss
From depths of endless woe.
Or sweeter still to look on high,
Where, through the glorious opening sky,
Those steps of life ascend,
Each broader, brighter than the last,
Faith boldly mounts, till all are past,
And all in glory end.
Love there will crown what Love began,
Its wondrous ways of grace to man,
In its sweet home above:
All, all, O Lord, will there proclaim,
Through endless years, thy blessed name,
SUPREME, ALMIGHTY LOVE!